East Side, West Side

Released Dec 22, 1949

1 hr. 48 min.

Drama

List

43%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Wealthy New York City investment broker Brandon Bourne is a compulsive philanderer, much to the consternation of his wife, Jessie (Barbara Stanwyck). When Brandon reignites an affair with his old mistress, Isabel (Ava Gardner), Jessie seeks consolation with Mark Dwyer (Van Heflin), a policeman turned journalist. Then Isabel is found dead, and both Brandon and Jessie are suspected of the murder. Along with his former colleague Lt. Jacobi (William Conrad), Mark tries to solve the case.

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Carol B

I love old movies and this is a hidden gem. Barbara Stanwyck gives a very realistic portrayal of a wealthy well bred lady whose sleezy husband, played by James Mason is cheating on her, with wait for this, the beautiful Ava Gardner, who plays a harden playgirl! Cyd Charise is very sweet in her supporting role, as is our former First Lady, Nancy Davis, Mrs. Ronald Reagan. There is a murder, and a classic who did it evolves into a drama.I like this movie, and where else will you see such Star Power? I highly recommend. Thank you. carolintallahassee

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Barbara Stanwyck, Ava Gardner, James Mason, Van Heflin, and Cyd Charisse. That's reason enough to watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Tom M

James Mason's character is moronic and despicable. Every time he begs for Stanwyck to take him back, you roll your eyes and consider turning the movie off. Heflin and Charisse and a very evil Ava Gardner keep you watching.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/28/21

Full Review

s r

A complicated love drama with multiple love triangles getting in the way. Beautiful cast and they all did well. A hidden gem. Saw it on TCM.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The main theme of this movie is one that has played out so many times in movies and books (and life): a man (James Mason) cheats on his wife (Barbara Stanwyck) with a woman (Ava Gardner) who gives him the thrills she cannot. The affair was over, but now she's back. He resists, but she points out that fireworks are not something to be taken lightly: "Maybe it wasn't love, maybe it was only chemistry, or the right combination, or a miracle. But most people drag through their whole lives without finding it. We both know that, don't we Bran?" And when he tells her he doesn't want to see her again, she purrs the sexy double entendre "I'll do exactly what you want Bran, exactly what you want." Gardner is just brilliant, oozing raw desire and channeling Jean Harlow in "The Red-Headed Woman" when she later gets slapped by Mason. Instead of being hurt, she eggs him on, knowing his passion is rising, and knows "that's what you're missing at home", and "you want to be rotten like me." Stanwyck plays the virtuous wife with quiet grace, though I thought she was too reserved in a showdown scene with the outlandishly mean Gardner. It's always great to see her movies though, and she does play 'hurt' and 'conflicted' well. There is a lot of star power here, with Cyd Charisse and Van Heflin also in the cast, and even an appearance from Nancy Davis, who of course would later be Nancy Reagan. As Stanwyck is betrayed by Mason, she turns to Heflin, and it's quite clear they're mutually attracted. Heflin is so smooth and likeable, and there is dignity in his acknowledgment of his love for her without resorting to adultery, in direct contrast to Gardner and Mason. Mason and Stanwyck may have gotten top billing, but I think they were upstaged by Heflin and Gardner. As the pressure ratchets up, both Mason and Stanwyck find themselves needing to make choices, though Mason's is disrupted by an event I won't spoil. There are some events that might be too convenient as it plays out, but there is reality and passion here, and I enjoyed this film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A very good drama noir great actors and actresses make this movie enjoyable.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Mervyn LeRoy

Director

Barbara Stanwyck

Jessie Bourne

James Mason

Brandon Bourne

Ava Gardner

Isabel Lorrison

Van Heflin

Mark Dwyer

Cyd Charisse

Rosa Senta

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Variety Staff

Variety

The principal difficulty in Isobel Lennart's screenplay is that there's too much visible planting of threads to be ostentatiously picked up later, and the coincidences are rampant.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

The ladies all wear expensive garments and the gentlemen drink expensive booze. But that still doesn't elevate the effort above the level of hopeful pretense. Furthermore, the direction of Mervyn LeRoy is dull.

May 6, 2008

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an unabashedly soapy melodrama...

Rated: 3/4

Dec 30, 2020

Full Review

Virginia Graham

The Spectator

If the whole thing seems shinier than real life, it never skids into the unbelievable.

Jan 22, 2020

Full Review

Paul Brenner

Filmcritic.com

Nothing but burnished dreck.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 29, 2009

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

In the MGM tradition, it presents such uninteresting melodrama trash with style and makes it entertaining through its talented cast.

Rated: C+

Jan 26, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

Wealthy New York City investment broker Brandon Bourne is a compulsive philanderer, much to the consternation of his wife, Jessie (Barbara Stanwyck). When Brandon reignites an affair with his old mistress, Isabel (Ava Gardner), Jessie seeks consolation with Mark Dwyer (Van Heflin), a policeman turned journalist. Then Isabel is found dead, and both Brandon and Jessie are suspected of the murder. Along with his former colleague Lt. Jacobi (William Conrad), Mark tries to solve the case.

Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Screenwriter: Isobel Lennart
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 1949, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012

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